Feast of the Immaculate Conception – VinFormation has collated a number of resources that help appreciate the place of Mary in the Vincentian Tradtion.

Mary in the Vincentian Tradition Thomas McKenna, CM
Five Faces of Mary Robert Maloney, CM
St. Vincent de Paul and the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Vincent de Paul’s Contemplation of Mary – Corpus Delgado, C.M., Province of Zaragoza

Marian_Spirituality_and_the_Vincentian_Charism
The Place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Vincentian Tradition

Other links to explore:

• December 8: Immaculate Conception
• Association of the Miraculous Medal: June 3, 1905
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• Mary, Intercessor of the Weak and Vulnerable

Vincent’s key insights about the Blessed Mother and Praising God

Tom McKenna

There were three events in Mary’s life that Vincent referred to often, because they carry three basic attitudes that enable us to praise God rightly:

1. The Immaculate Conception, Mary conceived without sin.
   • Mary put up no resistances to the workings of God within her. She was 100% cooperative.
   • Rather than closing down to the movements of God within her, she was wide open to them, fully sensitive to them.
   • Rather than filtering out any of the light of God shining within her, right from the beginning she let herself be totally exposed to it.
2. The Annunciation, the scene where the angel visits Mary and announces she is to be the Mother of God.
   • She offers herself for whatever God wants– “Be it done unto me according to your word.”
   • “Who am I that the Lord should come to me?”
   • My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
3. The Visitation, the time when Mary travels to be with her Cousin, Elizabeth, to help her in her old-age pregnancy.
   • The detail that Vincent picks up on is how Mary went to Elizabeth, how she left her own house in haste.
   • She is not just open to God, not just ready to serve – but she actually serves, actually gets on the road, really jumps at the chance to act.
   • Vincent sees this quality as an integral part of coming before God – not only being ready and willing to serve God’s cause, but actually serving.

December 8 marks

• the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• the canonical establishment of the Confraternity of Charity- 1617;
• the day on which the first group of the Ladies of Charity in the United States begins at St. Vincent’s Church in St. Louis – 1857
• one of the four major feasts chosen by the Society of St. Vincent DePaul 1834
• the day on which many groups of the Sisters of Charity Federation renew their vows.